June 21st, 2002 ~Whiplash(D), Psykeout(D), Destrius(D), Slipshod(U) Gates of Crystal City As you move off the main thoroughfare towards the Crystal City, you behold the massive chrome arches that form the singularly impressive gates to the city. The elaborately ornate spires that top the arches reach high into the sky as if to proclaim their immortality to the universe. The highly polished metal structure twinkles what light there is back at you, as if focusing a spotlight on all who enter the great city. The Guardian robot sized gates show few signs of any damage from the current conflict--a testimony to the dedication and vigilance of Omega Supreme. The gates stand open, but are well guarded by members of the Crystal City Militia. Beyond the troops, the bustling and lively main street beckons you inside... Whiplash [MedusaSaur] [D] Crystal City City Map Harmless Hermit Obvious Exits: -U- Up leads to Sky Above Crystal City -NE- Northeast leads to Old Cybertronia -E- East leads to Old Cybertronia -W- West leads to Guardian Pass -Whiplash is lurking near the gate, peering after someone who went inside. The regular guards go back to their bored stance. -Moonlight comes walking towards the city, her steps jaunty as ever. -Whiplash looks up as someone else approaches the gate, and nods to Moonlight as she recognizes her. "Hey there. Want to hear a wild story?" -Moonlight nods back in greeting. "Sure. Stories are good." -Whiplash says, "Some fence-sitter strolled up to the gate and stopped all baffled-like to see our insignia claiming the city. Said he'd been offworld, wondered what was going on. I told him the place was under new management. Seemed like his info checked out, he got himself an ID pass. Said he was a medic of some kind. Anyway, believe it or not I pointed him in the right direction instead of shredding him for the hell of it. Fil would be proud." She grins, showing her fangs. -Moonlight smiles back. "How is Enfilade doing these days anyhow?" -Whiplash's expression darkens a little. "I'm kinda worried about her." She shoots a look at the guards lounging by the gate, and moves off along the wall, out of earshot. -Moonlight follows Whiplash to that out of earshot place. "Anything in particular?" -Whiplash says, "Well ... we gotta kinda keep an optic on her, Moonlight. I ran into that rustcrawler Phantom yesterday. I'm in the process of cutting him to pieces, right, and he calls Fil onto the scene. Go figure. Now, I thought, this is my cue to back off, 'cause really she's got the right to kill the crawler...." -Moonlight nods and waits for Whiplash to finish. -Whiplash says, "Instead he hauls out Recoil's cannon. You know, that big gun Fil used to carry around, that the 'Bots took from her. Lays it on the ground, along with some kinda datapad with a message. I don't even want to imagine what it says, more screwing with her head. She gathers up this stuff, and lets him walk away. Just like that. Had a clear shot at him and everything, and never took it." -Moonlight smiles slightly. "I hate to break it to you, but not everyone jumps on the violence band-hovercraft as fast as you do." -Whiplash shakes her head, uncomprehending. "When you've been lied to and used and thrown away? By an *enemy* who's likely to come back and kill your troops if you let him walk? That's just irresponsible." -Moonlight nods her head. "That might be. But we don't know what happened to her in there exactly. She could be very confused and uncertain right now. Not everyone has your strength of mind. Not that there's anything wrong with Enfilade. I just get the impression that you're very tough." -Whiplash "blinks" a little with a slight flicker of her optics. "I don't imagine I'm any tougher than any other Decepticon, Moonlight. Fil's a little more laid back than I am, I'll admit, but she's not a doormat! How would *you* feel if you were tricked into falling in love with someone who doesn't even exist - just so your enemies could try and extract info from you?" -Moonlight shrugs. "Don't know. Never fell in love. I'm not so good with guessing how I would react. I just take things as they come. But from what I've seen on Monacus, once you're betrayed like that, you lose some of your self-respect no matter how tough or strong you are, no matter how much you tell yourself that it doesn't matter." -Whiplash "blinks" again, more noticably this time, and is quiet for a long moment. -Moonlight shrugs. "Sometimes there are things more powerful than war." -Whiplash shakes herself slightly, the tentacles flickering about as though shaking something off. She says, "Alright - but once you've been hit like that, don't you want to hit back? Don't you want to hurt the scum that hurt you first?" -Moonlight shakes her head. "I've asked femmes that same thing when I saw similar situations. By then they are so sunken in their concept of no self-worth, that they blame themselves...and forget to blame the mech. I don't quite understand it, but it happens. I've seen it from all ages and all stations on Monacus. And I don't think things are so different here." -Whiplash considers in silence again. "Mmmaybe," she muses, a scowl of concentration crossing her features. "Hm. Maybe that explains-" she cuts off, and says, "But at some point you get mad, though. At some point you want revenge! You figure she just needs some time to reach that point?" -Moonlight nods her head. "Most likely. But don't push her, it could make her sink deeper. I've seen plenty of femmes wanting revenge. I even smuggled them some weapons if they couldn't get any on their own." -Whiplash says, "I'm willing to do the job for her, if she wants." -Moonlight tilts her head to the side in thought. "Just let things flow for now. Watch and see what happens." -Whiplash says, "One problem, though. It's not just her life we're talking about here. What happens when that rustbucket comes back to kill one of our warriors? He flat-out told me yesterday, he's planning to kill Psykeout. Now, I got no great love for Psykeout, but he's one of us. So we defend him. Now, what if Enfilade can't bring herself to take a shot when it's needed?" -Moonlight shrugs. "Then I do it. I'm not so good at it, but maybe I could keep him dancing long enough to snap her out of it. After all, you are friends with her, but I only have a passing aquaintence with her. If you went against her wishes, it would threaten that friendship. I'd just get yelled at." -Whiplash says, "I can't imagine Fil would be upset if someone takes out that rustcrawler to defend our cause. She's not *that* far gone. Is she?" -Moonlight peers at Whiplash. "I don't know. You tell me." -Whiplash shakes her head a little despairingly. "Haven't had five minutes alone with her," she says. "I really don't know *where* her mind's at right now." -Moonlight smiles slightly. "I'm sure she'll be fine. At least she's keeping busy instead of locking herself away in a small, dark room alone." -Whiplash nods. "I'd be willing to bet she's hanging out at the bars, though. Let's drop by the Blaster and see if she's there." -Moonlight grins. "Drinking is a good way to get out of misery. Sounds like a plan." -Whiplash says, "So I'm told. Never been able to manage that myself. I still got my manager from the Games in the back of my mind screaming at us about overenergizing before the fights." Whiplash heads off toward the gate to lead the way into the city. Golden Blaster - Bar Room A former transit station that extended both above and below ground, the Golden Blaster was recently reconstructed. This was once the junction station and has now been renovated into a quiet bar. Several tables are set about, while a former concession stand was converted to a bar equipped with stools for the patrons. The dim lighting and the smell of smoke waft gently through the sometimes still air, adding a quiet ambiance. A jukebox sits in the corner, carrying everything from the latest techno-pop to pre-war love melodies. The quiet in this room allows for deals to be made and secrets to be exchanged with little chance of eavesdropping. Behind the counter most nights is Shotglass, a femme who is very popular with the local patrons. Working the tables are the waiter, Tankard, and the waitress, Downtime. Players: Whiplash Psykeout Objects: Drink Menu Slash Jukebox Obvious Exits: -O- Out leads to Crystal City - Commercial Sector -D- Spiral Staircase leads to Golden Blaster - Dance Floor -Whiplash comes into the Blaster and takes a quick look around, standing up into a transformation to get a better overview of the room, searching for someone. -Moonlight comes in close behind Whiplash, scanning the bar and waving to the few people she knows. -Psykeout sits in the corner, hidden within the shadows. His neon purple optics glow softly, as the ener-cig hanging out of his mouth lightens his mouth and helmet areas. His fingers are wrapped around the frosted mug... -Whiplash looks for the distinctive form of Enfilade, and does not see it. In the scan of the room, however, she notices someone else who looks familiar. Who's that lingering in the shadowy table? The glow of the ener-cig gives him away. -Moonlight also spots Psykeout and smiles, moving off towards the surly mech's table. -Whiplash joins Moonlight, registering but ignoring the obvious signals of someone wanting to be left alone in their dark corner. "Not who I was looking for this time, but you'll do," she says to Psykeout as she comes to his table. "You got a problem, fella." -Psykeout's optics lock onto Whiplash, as he thinks to himself, "Ahhh...great. Ms. Personality herself." he smiles softly, responding to her comments with a wise-crack of his own, "I am sorry that I am not who you were looking for. Are you currently searching for another mech to tear limb from limb?" -Moonlight can't help but snicker a little at that. "That's not going to get you very far Psyke." -Whiplash says, "Yeah, that too, but you're not him. This time." She seats herself without invitation across the table from Psyke, and continues, "Actually, you got two problems." -Moonlight scooches in beside Psykeout, not wanting to sit next to Whiplash in case she has to move quickly. "Make that possibly three." -Psykeout turns his gaze to Moonlight for a moment, "I know this." Motioning to a seat across from him, he offers Moonlight a seat. Turning his gaze to Whiplash, he offers a seat on the side of the table. "I'm glad that I haven't gotten on your bad side lately, but...what is this about two problems?" -Whiplash's optics narrow a little. "Let's not discuss my bad side just now." She counts off on her fingers, "One: you got a whole rat's nest of 'Bots that want to capture, torture, and kill you. Doesn't make you that much different from any of the rest of us there. But, two: you got a 'Con high command that doesn't trust you to be able to handle yourself in combat and wants you to stay cowering behind Crystal City's walls. And three-" she adds one for good measure, "you *can't* handle yourself in combat. So even if they come after you right here in the heart of the city, you're probably done for." -Moonlight nods her head. "And some guy was asking an awful lot of questions about you as well." -Psykeout raises an optic ridge, slamming his fist upon this table. "Why the frag is this brought up again? It is true that I cannot handle myself in combat and I think that has been well documented. When I had made a post to all of the Decepticons, I got a satisfactory answer from Field Commander Enfilade. I have spoken to Moonlight as well, about the entire thing. So, now I have to get you up on my aft as well?" He snarls softly, "So. Here's a recap for you slow-circuted types. One - I don't care. Two - A High Ranking officer is not Shockwave. Shockwave trusts me to a point, obviously. Otherwise, he would have not given me this sigil." He points to the sigil upon his shoulder before he continues, "Three - It is common fraggin' sense, my dear. It is something that I have not been blessed with. Do you have nothing better to chew on me about?" Psykeout looks to Moonlight, "WHO?" His optics flicker rapidly, as he eagerly awaits an answer. -Whiplash takes the tirade uncharacteristically calmly, though her optics flash a little brighter in irritation. She too is interested in who might be pumping Moonlight for information, so she waits for her to procede before she speaks again. -Moonlight shrugs. "Some old, unaffil type mech." -Psykeout narrows his optics to a mere slit...but says nothing. -Whiplash wonders, "Old unaffil?" she can't immediately place that image. She has more overriding concerns, though, and re-focuses on Psykeout, waiting patiently (patience, from Whiplash!) for him to simmer down a little. -Slipshod wanders in, tired and frustrated. -Moonlight thinks. "His name was Arcane." -Whiplash's optics flicker a little brighter in irritation at that name. "That old windbag again? What'd he want?" -Psykeout looks over to Whiplash for a moment, allowing his optics to open a bit. "I don't know of any 'old mechs'..." As he hears the name, his optics widen, "Ahhh...Yes. I have encountered him before..." He drifts off, finishing the original ener-cig, as he lights another. -Moonlight nods. "He seemed very interested in Psykeout. Seemed to want to know all about you. Don't know why though. You're not very friendly." -Destrius walks into the establishment and orders a drink, looking around for familiar faces. -Psykeout raises an optic rdige, "When have I ever been 'friendly'?" -Whiplash hisses something disparaging to herself. "He's irrelevant. Listen, you got bigger problems than some old rusty rattletrap that wants to know about you. Are you listening to me?" -Moonlight shakes her head. "My point exactly. Why would anyone be so interested in you if you're so grumpy to everyone around you." Then she falls silent so Whiplash can continue. -Whiplash doens't really notice Destrius either, her attention intently on Psykeout. But the group of three in the corner isn't exactly invisible. -Psykeout's optics flicker for a moment, as they finally decide upon a dark rosy red. Turning his full attention to Whiplash, "Oh. My dear. I am so sorry that I have not payed attention to you this entire time. Please. Continue." -Destrius notices the Decepticons, and walks over to them, a drink in his hand. He has a smile on his face as he says "Greetings, Decepticons." -Slipshod looks for the bartender and strikes up a familiar conversation. -Moonlight nods to Destrius. -Whiplash is about to snap something sarcastic right back at Psykeout, when Destrius interrupts the impulse. She gives him an almost irritated look at first, then says, "Oh. It's you." She looks him up and down as though trying to figure something out. -Destrius says in a cheerful tone "And how have you been, Whiplash?" -Psykeout leers at Destrius before turning his attention back to Whiplash. "Please...continue..." -The bar's clientele is a mixture of Decepticons and unaffil citizens of Crystal City at the moment, though the Crystal City citizens are noticably fewer in number than a returning mech might recall. The bartender glances over toward the group of 'Cons in the corner, and just shakes his head a little at Slipshod, a somewhat resigned gesture. -Slipshod downs his drink and mutters quietly to the bartender, who recoils from the statement. -Destrius nods to Whiplash and takes a seat. -Moonlight stands up and nods to the group of Decepticons. "Well, I predict that this is going to get dull after a bit. I'm going to head out now." And as she leaves she winks to the unknown unaffil sitting at the bar, just to get a reaction. -Psykeout raises an optic ridge, "Get 'through' to me?" -Psykeout nods once towards Moonlight, turning back to Whiplash. -Slipshod eyes Moonlight warily. -Moonlight exits while humming a bawdy bar song.